GAZINKUS - Mari Aranoff & Dean McComb

Mari Aranoff and Dean McComb are Gazinkus, a duo specializing in tight vocal harmonies on their original songs and classic rock/pop, accompanied by Dean's guitar and Mari's flute and keyboard. Since their first meeting in 2000 at an open mic, Dean and Mari have been a mutual admiration society, having discovered that they had a similar taste in music, had a penchant for nostalgia trips, and that they were a vocal match made in heaven. Although involved in other projects, they sang and played together just for fun. When Dean recorded his solo CD "Are You?" in 2002, Mari was a major supporting player. Later, they became an official duo and have been seen and heard around the San Francisco Bay Area at the Tapestry Arts Festival, Santana Row, the San Gregorio General Store, the Blue Rock Shoot, Orchard Valley Coffee, KKUP-FM, the Mountain Art and Wine Show… and most recently at the Essanay Café in Fremont and the Tiki Lounge in Kihei, Maui. The first Gazinkus recording, an EP called "No Second Bananas," is now available on CD Baby!
Dean McComb ( http://dreamindean.com/ ) grew up in Southern California in the post-war baby-boom era, and his music was heavily influenced by that experience. A self-taught guitarist, he began playing in 1975 and began penning his first tunes in 1977. His songwriting has the sensitivity of the Pop and Folk era of the sixties and seventies. His unique vocal range consists of a heart-warming tenor, right-on falsetto, and booming bass. Dean began to show off his considerable talents in 1979, performing in the Santa Barbara area at gigs, festivals, and a live show over KCSB radio in 1981. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982, Dean continued to write and perform all over -- on his own, at the Freight & Salvage and other venues with the folk trio McTune (despite writings on other sites, McTune spanned two years, 1988-1990, with Dean, Gerard Rohlf, & Dave Rohlf). He later played in a duo with fellow musician Peter Anderson from 2001-2003. Dean's 2002 solo CD, "Are You?" received raves.
Mari Aranoff* is an eclectic musician who has played pop tunes on classical stages and Mozart in bars. Like Dean, she has several voices--her regular singing voice and her flutes. After moving from her native L.A. in 1998, she became active in the Bay Area music scene -- particularly as half of two duos, RAD & MAD (comedy singer-songwriter duo) and Fife & Strum (classic rock flute/guitar); flutist/backup singer in That Jazz Band; and the flutist in the Kitchen Winds (classical woodwind quintet). Mari's ability to improvise, play by ear, and read music has landed her in a variety of groups (rock, jazz, classical, country, new age, children's music, etc.). Her songwriting ventures into offbeat territory, including the Banana Man from the Captain Kangaroo Show and the Many Worlds theory of quantum mechanics. She has also added her fluting and singing to the CDs of several local artists, including acoustic singer/songwriters Daphna Rahmil, Mike Simpson, and Bev Barnett & Greg Newlon; Christian artist Michael John; the Redwood Symphony, and of course, dreamindean. (*also credited as Mari Duncan)
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“…mellow and a little bit folky but with a constant energy bubbling just under the smooth surface. Within their consistent (and consistently pleasing) style there's remarkable variety, owing to the versatility of both musicians, who play multiple instruments as well as singing and harmonizing charmingly. Their professionalism comes through especially when they improvise, which they do with a tremendous sense of fun.”
--Scott Sublett, Critic-at-Large
“The duo is one of the finest, but most difficult musical groupings. [Gazinkus] uses the openness of the duet to display signature harmonies and instrumental virtuosity without ever losing the simple sweetness of two. Across original and cover material written and selected oh-so-well for their style, Aranoff and McComb are sweet, funny, poignant and sad - often at once.”
-- Mike Simpson, Popular Bay Area Musician
And listeners have been saying…
“By the way, I really enjoyed your singing yesterday. You guys are AWESOME! I listened to your CD all day on Sunday - beautiful. Can't wait for your next one!"
-- Elisa (audience member)
"You guys sound so dreamy together! I just love your music!"
-- Jamie (musician)
“Very nice and heartwarming music.”
-- Lisanne (audience member)
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